3 مارس

According to Ukrainian officials, Ukrainian troops stationed in Crimea were urged to surrender by 4 March at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) or face an armed confrontation via an ultimatum issued by Alexander Vitko, the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.[143] This ultimatum was however denied by Russian officials[144] and turned out to be false as no confrontations were reported after the deadline expired.[145] Russian soldiers seized a ferry terminal in the city of Kerch, the easternmost point of Crimea.[146]

5 مارس

The Council of Ministers of Crimea announced that "more than 700 soldiers and officers" from the 50th, 55th and 147th antiaircraft missile regiments, stationed in Yalta, Feodosia and Fiolent respectively, defected to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea side by "declaring their readiness to defend the population of Crimea".[147] Altogether, as of 5 March the Crimeans claim to have 6000 defectors from the Ukrainian Armed Forces on their side.[147] Also, three deputies of the Batkivshchyna party submitted a bill in the Verkhovna Rada that would abolish the country's official neutrality, and make "Euro-Atlantic integration and NATO membership" a foreign policy priority for Ukraine.[148][149]

Robert Serry, the UN secretary-general's envoy to Crimea, left Ukraine after being besieged by an angry mob chanting pro-Russia slogans.[150][151][152] Serry is expected to continue his work in Kiev due to situation in Crimea.[153]

6 مارس

The Supreme Council of Crimea voted for full accession as part of the Russian Federation after more than six decades as part of Ukraine.[156] The Supreme Council's decision will be put to the Crimean people via referendum if the request is granted by Russia. The previously announced referendum scheduled for 30 March, will be moved up to 16 March 2014, and its question will be altered to reflect the Supreme Council's 6 March vote of whether to accept reunification with Russia or not.[156] A Ukrainian government minister argued that any referendum would be unconstitutional.[156] Council member Pilunsky declared that the decision did not meet the quorum.[157]

Observers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) made attempts to get inside the Crimean peninsula, however they were stopped at border checkpoints by pro-Russian forces. The contingent consists of 42 people from 22 countries and led by Hungarian Lt. Col. Gábor Ács. The mission arrived in Ukraine on 6 March and has a mandate to work in Crimea till March 12.[158] They were deterred by warning shots while attempting to enter Crimea on 8 March.[159]

7 مارس

Three Ukrainian television channels have been shut down in the Crimea,[160] including the largest local broadcaster not run by the Crimean state,[161] and two that have been replaced by Russian state television.[160]

Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists have both claimed that human rights of journalists, human rights activists, and pro-Ukrainian protestors have been violated by the occupying forces.[بحاجة لمصدر] John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Director at Amnesty International stated "Attempting to monitor the human rights situation in Crimea has become a near impossible task. Self-styled Crimean self-defence groups are harassing pro-Ukrainian protesters, journalists and human rights monitors with complete impunity."[162][163]

جندي من الجيش الأوكراني في قاعدة پرڤالنه العسكرية، 9 مارس.

9 مارس

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron, has defended breakaway moves by the pro-Russian leaders of Crimea by saying their actions are aimed at protecting the legitimate interests of the population of the region, according to the Kremlin. Ms Merkel, however, told Mr Putin the referendum violated Ukraine's constitution and was against international law.[164]

In Sevastopol, clashes took place during a rally celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. pro-Kiev radicals from Western Ukraine started shouting Nazi slogans and called on Sevastopol residents to ignore the March 16 referendum.[165][166][167][168] Police confirmed that 20 people were detained including members of the Right Sector nationalist group.[169]

10 مارس

Allegations emerged that mercenaries from the U.S. defense-contracting firm Academi (Blackwater) were used by the pro-Kiev authorities in Donetsk to suppress the local pro-Russian protesters there.[170] The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that Russia is "outraged by the chaos which is currently ruling in eastern regions of Ukraine," which The Washington Post interpreted as potentially being a "pretext for Russian military intervention into areas of Ukraine beyond Crimea."[171]

Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov proposed an agreement with Crimean Tatars who constitute more than 12 percent of the Crimean population. Under the deal, Tatar representatives will be offered a vice premiership and at least two more posts in the local government.[169] The Crimean Tatars declined this offer.[172]قالب:Fv[173][174]

The parliament of Crimea sent an official invitation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to send a mission to observe the referendum on March 16.[175] The next day the Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea, Rustam Temirgaliyev, said they did not invite the OSCE to observe the referendum in an official manner.[176] He explained that only a verbal invitation was indeed made by Prime Minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksionov, but not an official invitation.[176] Later the OSCE chair, Switzerlands Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter declared the referendum as illegal in its current form as its in contradiction with the Ukrainian constitution and that the OSCE will not send a mission to observe it.[177]

Over 1 billion hryvna ($110 million) belonging to the regional budget of Crimea was frozen by the post-Maidan government in Kiev.[بحاجة لمصدر]

11 مارس

The Crimean parliament voted and approved a declaration on the independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol from Ukraine, as the Republic of Crimea, with 78 votes out of 100 in favor.[178] The Bakhchasaray air defense base was taken over by 30 Crimean "self-defence forces" personnel.[178]

12 مارس

President Barack Obama talks with acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the conclusion of their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, March 12, 2014.

A set of press regulations was issued by the Crimean parliament concerning the referendum on 16 March, stating, among other things, that authorized journalists covering the elections are obliged "not to spread material with negative content"[179]

The multinational OSCE observation mission published a report about their observations which "produced significant evidence of equipment consistent with the presence of Russian Federation military personnel in the vicinity of the various roadblocks encountered". Their entrance was refused at gunpoint.[180]

The UNHuman Rights Envoy Ivan Simonovic had to cancel his trip to Crimea as the current situation does not permit his travel. He intended to observe the human rights situation, which was Russia's explanation for its engagement in Crimea.[181]

13 مارس

Russia has voiced support for the deployment of an OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine, including Crimea, the chairman of the European security group said on Thursday, calling this a possible "big step forward."[182]

14 مارس

The United States and Russia found no middle ground on the Ukrainian crisis, after six hours of talks in London.[183]

15 مارس

A woman casts her ballot during the referendum on the status of Crimea, March 16, 2014

A group of 30 international observers arrived in Crimea ahead of the 16 March referendum. The observers’ mission includes representatives from Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, France and Poland.[186]

A day before the Crimean referendum, tens of thousands of Russian demonstrators held anti-war protests in Moscow opposing Russian military invention in Ukraine. It was the largest protest in Russia since the 2011–13 Russian protests.[187]

Gennady Basov, the leader of the Russian Bloc party and a deputy of Sevastopol City Council, were kidnapped by unknown people.[188]

16 مارس

Crimeans vote in a referendum to rejoin Russia or return to its status under the 1992 constitution.[191]

Crimean news agencies are now reporting that the official results of the referendum are in, and the region overwhelmingly voted to re-join Russia [192] Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia, officials say. [193] Election officials said the turnout was a record high, beating the numbers who vote in local elections [194] Many Crimean Tatars boycotted the referendum.[195]

In Kiev, interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk threatened dire consequences for the Crimean politicians who had called for the referendum, saying "We will find all of them - if it takes one year, two years - and bring them to justice and try them in Ukrainian and international courts. The ground will burn under their feet".[196]

The defence ministries of Ukraine and Russia agree on a truce in Crimea until March 21, according to the acting Ukrainian defence minister.[197]

Reşat Ametovyaky, an ethnic Crimean Tatar, was found dead in the Belogorskiy Region of Crimea. He was abducted on March 3 after the announcement of partial military mobilization in Ukraine, he disappeared on his way to the recruitment office. He was found dead with signs of torture. His hands were handcuffed and his head was covered in duct tape.[206]

The new Prime Minister of UkraineArseniy Yatsenyuk stated in his maiden speech of 27 February "Ukraine will use all legal constitutional methods to preserve the territorial integrity of the state. Crimea was, is and will be a part of Ukraine!”.[210]

On 27 February 2014, the MFA of Ukraine in response to the MID statement stated that the responsibility for non-compliance with the agreement on settlement of the crisis lies on the fourth president Viktor Yanukovych.[211] "In Ukraine, it is honored the importance of the crisis settlement Agreement which was signed on 21 February 2014 by current at the time president of Ukraine, opposition leaders and witnessed by officials of Germany, France and Poland.[211] In this regard, we express disappointment that the representative of the Russian Federation, who also participated in the negotiation and drafting of the document, refused to testify this Agreement.[211] It is possible that it was that factor that become at the end one of the reasons for the rejection by the former president of Ukraine to fulfill arrangements of the Agreement aimed at stabilizing the domestic life in the country," - said in the document.[211]

On 28 February 2014, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution on events in Crimea.[212] "Verkhovna Rada demands from the Russian Federation to stop steps that have signs of encroachment on state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including to refuse supporting separatism in Ukraine in any form," - it was said in the ruling.[212][213]

On 28 February, Dmytro Yarosh, the leader of the Right Sector, denounced reports of Right Sector putting together armed units to be sent to Crimea; "Right Sector hopes that a way out of this difficult situation will be found exclusively in the political field, without using forcible methods. Right Sector believes that all parties and non-governmental organizations of Ukraine should forget strife and unite when it comes to the preservation of Ukraine's integrity. We should help politicians in settling this conflict peacefully".[218] On 1 March, initial reports said that Dmytro Yarosh asked Dokka Umarov, Chechen militant associated with al-Qaeda, for support of Ukraine;[219] but later it was announced about fake statement from his hacked account.[220]

On 1 March 2014, the acting President of Ukraine sign an edict where he pointed out that appointment of Sergei Aksyonov as the Chairman of the Councils of Ministers of Crimea was in violation with the Constitution of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.[221]

On 1 March, the Oblast council of Luhansk Oblast voted to demand giving Russian language the status of second official language, stopping ″persecution of Berkut fighters″, disarming Maidan self-defense units and banning a number political organizations like Svoboda and UNA-UNSO. For the case the authorities failed to comply with the demands, the Oblast council reserved itself the ″right to ask for help from the brotherly people of the Russian Federation.″[225]

القرم

Operations of the Kerch ferry were suspended on 27 February 2014.[226] The Ukrainians in Crimea called on Ukrainian officials to secure peace and security for Crimeans and for European officials to influence the Russian position in regards to separatist attitudes.[227] The new chairman of the Council of Ministers hopes to receive financial help from the Russian Federation with support from Viktor Yanukovych.[228] In the telephone conversation Volodymyr Konstantinov explained Nestor Shufrych (MP) that Crimea does not want a secession, but only to expand its right.[229] The former chief of the general staff Yuriy Ilyin was reported to be hospitalized with a heart attack in the Ukrainian Navy hospital in Sevastopol.[230]

ڤيكتور يانوكوڤيتش

Late at night on 27 February 2014, the former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, who is wanted along with Zakharchenko under suspicion of mass killing of people,[231] arrived in Rostov-on-Don escorted by jet fighters.[232] On 28 February he conducted a press-conference.[232] In this press conference Yanukovych stated "Crimea must remain part of the Ukrainian state retaining broad autonomy rights".[233] According to him the unrest in Crimea was "an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit coup that has occurred in Kiev"; and he stated he was confident that the people of Crimea "do not want to obey and will not obey nationalists and bandits".[233] He insisted that military action was "unacceptable" and that he would not request Russian military intervention.[234][235]

The State Duma Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, headed by Leonid Slutsky, visited Simferopol on February 25, 2014 and said: "If the parliament of the Crimean autonomy or its residents express the wish to join the Russian Federation, Russia will be prepared to consider this sort of application. We will be examining the situation and doing so fast."[236] They also stated that in the event of a referendum for Crimea region joining Russian Federation they would consider its results "very fast".[237][238] Later Slutsky announced that he was misunderstood by Crimean press and no decision regarding simplifying the process of acquiring Russian citizenship for people in Crimea has been made yet.[239] And added that if "fellow Russian citizens are in jeopardy you understand that we do not stay away".[240] On 25 February in a meeting with Crimean politicians he stated that Viktor Yanukovich was still the legitimate president of Ukraine.[241] That same day in the Russian Duma, they announced they were determining measures so that Russians in Ukraine who 'did not want to break from the Russian World' could acquire Russian citizenship.[242]

On February 26, 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian Armed Forces to be "put on alert in the Western Military District as well as units stationed with the 2nd Army Central Military District Command involved in aerospace defense, airborne troops and long-range military transport." Despite media speculation it was for in reaction to the events in Ukraine Russian Defense MinisterSergei Shoigu said it was in separate consideration from the unrest in Ukraine.[243]
On February 27, 2014, the Russian government dismissed accusations about violation by the Russian side of the basic agreements in regards of the Black Sea Fleet: "All movements of armored vehicles are undertaken in full compliance with the basic agreements and did not require any approvals".[244][245][246]

On February 27, 2014, the Russian governing agencies presented the new law project on granting citizenship.[247]

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the West and particularly NATO to "abandon the provocative statements and respect the neutral status of Ukraine".[248] In its statement the ministry claims that agreement on settlement of the crisis which was signed on 21 February and was witnessed by foreign ministries from Germany, Poland and France has to this date, not been implemented[248] (Vladimir Lukin from Russia had not signed it[249]).

According to RIA News, the political faction A Just Russia initiated in the State Duma amendments to the law on accession to the Russian Federation.[250]

On Russian social networks there is a movement to gather volunteers who served in the Russian army to go to Ukraine.[254]

On February 28 President Putin stated it was of "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence and the necessity of a rapid normalisation of the situation in Ukraine" in telephone calls with key EU leaders.[235] Already on 19 February the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the Euromaidan revolution as the "Brown revolution".[255][256]

The Federation Council approved that Russia may introduce a limited contingent of Russian troops in Crimea[مطلوب توضيح] for the security of the Black Sea Fleet and the Russians.[257]

In Moscow, on March 2, 2014 an estimated 27,000 rallied in support of the Russian government's decision to intervene in Ukraine.[258] Up to 15,000 participated in a similar rally in St. Petersburg, while around 12,000 rallied in Krasnodar.[258][259] The rallies received considerable attention on Russian state TV and were officially sanctioned by the government.[258]

Russian President Vladimir Putin (seated, middle) speaks to the press on 4 March, denouncing the events in Kiev as an "unconstitutional coup", and insisting that Moscow has a right to protect Russians in Ukraine.[260]

Meanwhile, on March 1, 2014 five people who were picketing next to the Federation Council building against the invasion of Ukraine were arrested.[261] The next day about 200 people protested at the building of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow against Russian military involvement.[262] About 500 people also gathered to protest on the Manezhnaya Square in Moscow and the same number of people on the Saint Isaac's Square in Saint Petersburg.[263] On 2 March about eleven protesters demonstrated in Yekaterinburg against Russian involvement, with some wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.[264] Protests were also held in Chelyabinsk on the same day.[265] The opposition to the military intervention was also expressed by rock musician Andrey Makarevich, who wrote in particular: "You want war with Ukraine? It will not be the way it was with Abkhazia: the folks on the Maidan have been hardened and know what they are fighting for – for their country, their independence. [...] We have to live with them. Still neighborly. And preferably in friendship. But it's up to them how they want to live".[266] The Professor of the Department of Philosophy at the Moscow State Institute of International RelationsAndrey Zubov was fired for his article in Vedomosti, criticizing Russian military intervention.[267]

State-run pollster VTSIOM released an opinion poll conducted on March 1-2 showing that President Vladimir Putin's approval rating increased among the Russian public since the Crimean crisis began, up to 67.8%, which is Putin's highest approval rating since May 2012.[268] Additionally, 71% of respondents agreed with the statement that Russia should "more actively defend the interests of Russians in Crimea", while only 17% thought it would be "better not to come into conflict with the Ukrainian authorities".[268]

On March 4, 2014 at press conference in Novo-Ogaryovo President Putin expressed his view on the situation that if a revolution took place in Ukraine, it is a new country with which Russia did not conclude any treaties.[269] He brought up an analogy with events of 1917 in Russia, when as a result of the revolution the Russian Empire fell apart and a new state was created.[269] However, he stated Ukraine would still have to honor its debts.

On March 5, 2014 an anchor of the Russian-owned international news channel RT America, Abby Martin, in an interview with Piers Morgan, said she "did not agree" with how her employer RT was covering the Ukrainian crisis, but claims RT still supports her despite her differences of opinion.[273] Also on 5 March 2014, another RT America anchor, Liz Wahl, of the network's Washington, DC bureau, resigned on air, explaining that she could not be "part of a network that whitewashes the actions of Putin" and citing her Hungarian ancestry and the memory of the Soviet repression of the Hungarian Uprising as a factor in her decision.[274]

دعاية الحرب

Russia's Channel One spoke about mass migration from Ukraine to Russia showing video footage with situation on the border with Poland.[276]

معارضة التدخل العسكري

On 1 March, five people who were picketing next to the Federation Council building against the invasion of Ukraine were arrested.[277] The next day about 200 people protested at the building of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow against Russian military involvement.[278] About 500 people also gathered to protest on the Manezhnaya Square in Moscow and the same number of people on the Saint Isaac's Square in Saint Petersburg.[279] On March 2 about eleven protesters demonstrated in Yekaterinburg against Russian involvement, with some wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.[280] Protests were also held in Chelyabinsk on the same day.[281]

قائمة العقوبات

المنظمات الدولية

الاتحاد الأوروپي — On March 1, Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton stated that the EU "deplores" Russia's decision to use military action in Ukraine, describing it as an "unwarranted escalation of tensions." She called on "all sides to decrease the tensions immediately through dialogue, in full respect of Ukrainian and international law." And added that "The unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected at all times and by all sides. Any violation of these principles is unacceptable. More than ever, restraint and sense of responsibility are needed."[282]

المنظمات الحكومية

OSCE – A diplomatic group was dispatched by the OSCE consisting of official representative and a head of the OSCE Commissar on affairs of national minorities.[283]

الأمم المتحدة — On March 1, while members of the UN Security Council were meeting in an emergency closed-door session, a spokesman for the UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon delivered a statement saying that the Secretary General was "gravely concerned about the deterioration of the situation" in Ukraine and planned to speak shortly with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ban's statement called for "full respect for and preservation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and demanded "immediate restoration of calm and direct dialogue between all concerned."[284] The Security Council itself expressed support for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The Council agreed that it was important that all political actors in Ukraine exercise maximum restraint and called for an inclusive dialogue recognizing the diversity of the Ukrainian society.[285]

ناتو — On March 2, 2014, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen convened the North Atlantic Council today because of Russia’s military action in Ukraine. And because of President Putin’s threats against this sovereign nation.[286]

الدول

بلاروس – On 28 February 2014, the Foreign Ministry expressed its concerns about events in Ukraine.[288]

بلغاريا — On March 1, Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev said in a statement that "Bulgaria is for preserving the sovereignty, the territorial integrity and the democratic future of Ukraine". The President further said that the presence of foreign forces and their unauthorized activity within the territory of a sovereign state "raises serious concern" and called for an end to any provocative actions that could lead to "irreparable consequences not only for the region, but also for the international order".[289] In a later statement that day, following the Russia's Parliament decree allowing the usage of Russian armed forces in Crimea, President Plevneliev reiterated that "the only lasting solution may be achieved by peaceful means and if the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine is guaranteed" and that "[t]he usage of military force to occupy foreign territories is violation of the rules of international law". The President also called on the UN Security Council and the countries-guarantors to the Budapest Memorandum to ensure a peaceful solution to the problem and to avoid a further escalation of the tension. In conclusion, President Plevneliev stated that "[t]he people of Ukraine should alone decide what their future should be in a democratic way", reminding that new presidential elections are due to be held in Ukraine in May 2014.[290]

كندا —On Feb. 28 Foreign Minister Baird "congratulated the new government and emphasized the need to honour the 1994 Budapest Declaration’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and national unity at this critical time."[291] On a March 1 phone call President Obama and Prime Minister Harper "affirmed the importance of unity within the international community in support of international law, and the future of Ukraine and its democracy.'[292] On the same day, Harper condemned Russia's military intervention in Ukraine; He announced that Canada had both recalled its ambassador to Russia and withdrew from preparations for the 40th G8 summit, which is to be chaired by Russia.[44]

إستونيا — Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated on March 1 that, "The Russian parliament's decision to authorise the use of troops in Ukraine is a clear threat to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," and that Russia's "...military threats and actions against Ukraine must stop." He called for the Ukrainian leadership to pursue all actions to reduce tensions and restore societal unity.[293]

فنلندا — Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja stated on March 1, that Russia is implementing an military takeover of Crimean territory and by doing so Russia is violating several international treaties and laws. [294]

جورجيا — President Giorgi Margvelashvili called on the international community "not to allow new conflict in Europe and to use all the available means in order to avert possible aggression and to preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."[296]

المجر — In a statement issued 1 March, Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about the situation on the Crimean Peninsula. The Ministry noted that the Visegrád Four Foreign Ministers had asked both the Kiev government leaders and the Donetsk region's political leaders to abstain from provocative steps that may heighten tension and lead to violence.[297]

أيرلندا - Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore expressed concern regarding the developments in Ukraine. The Irish Government called on the Russian Federation to abide by international law and to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence. [298]

لاتڤيا — President of Latvia, Speaker of the parliament, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister issued a joint statement stating that "Latvia strongly stands for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and is of the opinion that any measures aimed at splitting Ukrainian society and questioning the territorial integrity of the country must be condemned in the strongest terms possible."[299]

لتوانيا — The Foreign Ministry announced that it called the Russia Ambassador to Lithuania to discuss the situation in Ukraine.[300]

پولندا — On March 1, 2014 Poland "strongly appeal[ed] for respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and observing international law, including fundamental principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe...We urge states-signatories to the Budapest Memorandum of December 1994, which gives Ukraine security assurances, to respect and fulfil their commitments.[301]

رومانيا — On the 2nd of March, president Traian Basescu said that any Russian Federation military presence in Ukraine, without Ukraine's approval and beyond the limits of bilateral accords, would be seen as an act of aggression. [302]

إسپانيا — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation released a statement in support of the new Ukrainian government, saying the following: "The Spanish government is concerned about the situation in Ukraine, which remains uncertain and unstable. The current tension in Crimea is especially concerning". The government also expressed its "full support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine", and urged all actors to "cooperate in finding a solution, while dismissing any use of force".[303]

السويد — Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tweeted on March 1, "Russian military intervention in Ukraine is clearly against international law and principles of European security."[304]

تركيا — Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated on 28 February that "Turkey attaches importance to democracy and democracy-based political stability in Ukraine's future" and that "Crimea is important for Turkey as it is Turkey's door to Ukraine and it is also important for our Tatar compatriots."[305]

المملكة المتحدة — The Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hague said he was "deeply concerned" at the escalation of tensions and the decision of the Russian parliament to authorise military action. He also said "This action is a potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine". [306]

الولايات المتحدة — Secretary of State John Kerry said in a press conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 27 February, "We all have to understand that nowhere is there a greater connection to or link to Russia in several different ways than there is in Crimea, but that as the days unfold, this should not become a tension or a struggle between the United States, Russia, East, West, et cetera. This is about the people of Ukraine being able to make their decisions." Kerry further urged Russia to respect Ukraine's borders and territorial integrity.[307] The US offered Russia cooperation to resolve situation in Ukraine.[308]

On 28 February, President Barack Obama's statement was released warning Russia not to intervene in Crimea. The statement said that President Obama is "deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine." It added that "any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interest of Ukraine, Russia, or Europe" and that it would be "a clear violation of Russia's commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine, and of international laws."[309] John Kerry condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 2 March in an interview for Face the Nation. He called it an "incredible act of aggression," and said that "you just don't in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext."[43]

On March 1, President Obama held a phone conservation with Putin and said that the Russian invasion was a "violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity... [and a] breach of international law." He warned of "greater political and economic isolation" and threatened to withdraw the United States from the 40th G8 summit chaired by Russia.[310]

Nina L. Khrushcheva, the great-granddaughter of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and a Russian Affairs professor at the The New School, says that the aims of Crimea is not necessarily independence from Ukraine, but rather continued dependence on Russia. However, this has instead led Putin to justify continued backing for Yanukovych as well as his own desires to re-take the peninsula. Nevertheless, she acknowledges that Putin's long term goal may not annexation of Crimea, since this could cause ethnic Crimean Tatars, who had been forcibly displaced by Stalin to Central Asia, to demand a return to Crimea and possibly cause the Islamic insurgency to spread out of Northern Caucasus. Furthermore, she also states that if Russia sets a precedent of recovering "lost territory", this could inspire countries such as China or Georgia to demand back their own "stolen lands". [313]

Volodymyr Panchenko, of the Kiev-based think-tank International Center for Policy Studies, says that the aim of Russia is for Crimea to be "more or less controlled by Russian troops," but that if or when a referendum is held "more than 80 percent" of votes would be for secession from Ukraine. The way events are unfolding in Crimea "is not a good precedent for the other provinces."[314]

الهوامش

^It also noted that "certain politicians, local government officials, leaders of civil society organizations, and radically inclined individuals have attempted to create grounds for escalating the civil conflict, and have spread autonomous and separatist attitudes among the people, which could lead to the demise of our as a united nation and loss of its national sovereignty." In addition, the statement said that certain lawmakers of every level have begun separatist negotiations with representatives of foreign nations. "Open consultations are being held on the possible division of the country into separate parts in violation of the Ukrainian constitution," read the statement. "This could lead to an escalation of conflict between different sectors of society, inciting ethnic or religious hatred and military conflict."[71]

^Sevastopol is the only city in Ukraine whose residents do not get to elect their mayor directly, due to the city's special status.[15]

^"Gunmen Seize Government Buildings in Crimea". The New York Times. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-03-01. Masked men with guns seized government buildings in the capital of Ukraine's Crimea region on Thursday, barricading themselves inside and raising the Russian flag after mysterious overnight raids that appeared to be the work of militant Russian nationalists who want this volatile Black Sea region ruled from Moscow.